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1976: 22-year-old hairdresser and singer, Kevin
Rowland places an advert for musicians in the Birmingham Evening Mail . Guitarist Mark Phillips replies to the advert
and together with his girlfriend Gil Weston (who he teaches to play bass) they become 'Art-Rock' band, Lucy &
The Lovers.
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1977: Inspired by the success of acts such as The Sex Pistols and The Clash, Kevin
Rowland adopts a punkier sound and image for the band (which now includes drummer, Lee Burton and backing vocalist,
Heather Tonge) renaming them The Killjoys.
First studio session recorded in Cambridge:
(tracks: Johnny Won't Go To Heaven; Naive; At Night; Recognition).
July 15: Single,
"Johnny Won't Go To Heaven"/"Naive" released. It
does not chart, but gains critical acclaim.
Burton leaves the band, while guitarist Keith Rimell and drummer Bob Peach
are recruited.
October 18: Radio One session recorded for John Peel (tracks: Naive;
Back To Front; At Night; Recognition)
|
1978 February
13: Radio One session recorded
for John Peel (tracks: Ghislaine; Spit On Me; Smoke Your Own; All The Way)
Kevin Rowland sees guitarist Kevin Archer performing in local
band, The Negatives with Pete Williams and invites Archer to join The Killjoys.
June: Phillips,
Weston and Peach leave The Killjoys and form new band Out Of Nowhere, featuring Michael Billingham on keyboards.
The Killjoys split shortly afterwards.
July: Dexys Midnight Runners formed by Kevin Rowland
and Kevin Archer who place adverts for musicians in the Birmingham Evening Mail . Bassist Pete Williams, organ-player
Pete Saunders and drummer John Jay are amongst the first recruits. Following a lengthy audition process, they are eventually
joined by sax players Geoff Blythe and Steve Spooner along with trumpeter Geoff Kent.
October: Jimmy Paterson travels from the north of Scotland to Birmingham to audition as
the group's trombone player. The group spend the next few months rehearsing solidly.
November 29: @ Dudley, Jodari's (Debut
gig) They are supported by local band, Dangerous Girls.
December: @ Dudley, Hen & Chickens Dexys record their first demo tapes with recordings
of "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green", "Don't Come Any Closer" (a.k.a ."I'm Just Looking")
and the never-released "It's Up To You".
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1979:
Dexys start performing regularly at small venues
in and around Birmingham. May: Billy
Adams meets Kevin Rowland at an early Dexys gig...
May 18: @ Birmingham, Imperial Hotel
July
5: @ Liverpool, Eric's (Dexys are supported by The Upset.) July 28: @ Liverpool, Eric's (Dexys
share the bill with The Merton Parkas featuring young keyboard player, Mick Talbot) Bernie Rhodes becomes the group's manager offering them a distribution deal with his own
Oddball Records. Bobby "Junior" Ward - drummer with Subway Sect (also managed by Rhodes) replaces John Jay.
November 15: @ Carlisle, Market Hall November 16: @ Leeds, University November 17: @ Loughborough, University November 18: @ Bristol, Locarno November 21: @ Liverpool, Mountford
Hall November 22: @ Dublin, Olympic Ballroom November 23: @ Belfast, University November 25: @ London, Lyceum November 26: @ Hemel Hempstead, Pavilion November 28: @ Cleethorpes, Winter
Gardens November 29: @ Coventry, Tiffanys Debut single, "Dance Stance" released.
December: Andy Leek and Andy Growcott
(a.k.a. 'Stoker') join Dexys replacing Pete Saunders and Bobby Jnr.
December 21: @ Dudley, JB's December 27: @ Camden, Electric Ballroom
|
1980 January 6: @ London, Marquee
January
10: Dexys record a set of 'live demos' at Manchester Square studios. The songs recorded include
"Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply", "Hold On! I'm Comin' ", "Breaking
Down The Walls OF Heartache", "The Horse", "I Couldn't Help If I Tried", "It's Up
To You" and "Definitely Down On The Farm".
January
??: Radio 1
Session recorded for Kid Jensen
(Tracks: "Geno", "Respect", "Dance Stance" and "The Teams
That Meet In Caffs"
Dexys embark on 38-date
"Straight To The Heart" tour:
January
19: @ Aylesbury, Friars. "Dance Stance" enters British
chart. January
25: @ Camden, Music Machine January 28: @ Edinburgh, Tiffany's January 29: @ Perth, City Hall January 30: @ Glasgow,
Technical College
January 31: @ Aberdeen, Fusion
February
1: @ St. Andrews, University (Craig and Charlie Reid attend this gig and are inspired to form their own group, The Proclaimers)
February
3: @ Dundee, University February 4:@ Aberystwyth,
University February 5:@
Shrewsbury, Music Hall
February
6: @ Wolverhampton, Polytechnic
February
7: @ Canterbury, University of Kent February 8: @ Stafford, North Staffordshire Polytechnic February 9: @ Huddersfield, Polytechnic. "Dance Stance" peaks at Number 40 in British Chart. (Dexys make their debut appearance on "Top of the Pops")
February 10:
@ Norwich, University of East
Anglia February 11: @ Newcastle-Under-Lyme,
Tyffany's February 12: @ Nuneaton,
77 Club February 13: @ Sheffield,
Polytechnic February 14: @ Coventry,
Warwick University February 15: @ Kidderminster,
Town Hall February 16: @ Middlesborough,
Rock Garden February 18: @ Swansea,
Circles February 19: @ Cardiff,
Top Rank February 20: @ Bristol,
Romeo & Juliet's February 21: @ Penzance,
Demelzas February 22: @
Bath, University
February 23: @ Manchester, Polytechnic
February 25: @
Oldham, Queen Elizabeth Hall February 26: @ Leicester, University. Radio 1 Session recorded for John
Peel(Tracks: "Geno", "Breakin' Down The Walls of Heartache", "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green"
and "The Horse")
March 1: @ Camden, Electric Ballroom
March 2: @ Bournemouth, Stateside Centre March 4: @ Hull, University
March 6: @
Coleraine, New University of Ulster March 7: @ Belfast, Queen's University March 8: @
Dublin, Bellefield
University March
13: John Peel Radio Session is transmitted. March 22: "Geno" enters British chart.
Pete Saunders returns to Dexys.
April: "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" recorded.
May 3: "Geno" reaches Number 1 in British chart. Dexys make an appearance on Saturday morning kids' show "Tiswas", with Sally James famously asking where the name "Dexys Midnight Runners" came from!
May 10:
Record
Mirror announces that Andy Leek has left Dexys.
May 17: Dexys
reply that Leek had actually left at the end of March but waited until Geno was topping the charts before announcing his departure.
(He coincidentally had a single 'out in few weeks'.)
Dexys begin their mammoth
"Intense Emotion Review" tour:
June 10: @ Portsmouth, Locarno June 11: @ Canterbury, Odeon June 12 : @ Pier Pavillion, Hastings June 13: @ Brighton, Top Rank June 14: @ Dunstable, Queensway June 15: @ Sheffield, Top Rank June 16: @ Doncaster, Rotters June 17: @ Coventry, Tiffanys June 18: @ Norwich, University of East Anglia June 20: @ Penzance, Demelzas (32 years later Pete Williams will recall this as the best gig he ever performed at!)
June 21: @ Exeter, University June 22: @ Bristol, Locarno June 23: @ Swindon, Brunel Rooms June 24: @ Reading, University June 25: @ Loughborough, University June 26: @ Newcastle, Mayfair June 27: @ Ayr, Pavilion June 29: @ Glasgow, Tiffanys June 30: @ Edinburgh, Tiffanys
July: Several planned tour dates, including Wigan Casino and Guildford
Civic are replaced with dates at venues better-suited to Dexys' shows.
July
4: @ Stoke, King's Hall
July
5: @ Bradford, King George's Hall
July
7: @ Merthyr Tydfil, Tythe Ballroom July 8: @ Swansea, Top Rank July 9: @
Derby, Assembly Rooms July 10: @
Cleethorpes, Winter Gardens July 11: @
Manchester, New Century Hall July 12: "There There My Dear" enters British chart.
July
13: @ Cardiff, Top Rank
July
14: @ Stafford, Top Of The World
July
15: @ Hatfield, Forum
July
16: @ Liverpool, Original Club
July
17: @ Birmingham, Gay Tower Ballroom
July
18: @ Birmingham, Cedar Club ("under
18's") July 19: @
Oxford, New Theatre July 20: @
Ashington, Regatta Marquee July 23: @
Galway, Seapoint July 24: @
Sligo, Baymount July 25: @
Tralee, Cyms July 26: "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" enters British album chart.
July
29: @ Dublin, Mansion House
July
30: @ Dundalk, Imperial July 31: @ Belfast, Ulster Hall July 2: @ London, Hornsey Town Hall July 3: @ Blackburn, King George's Hall
August
??: Dexys make their first appearance in the U.S.A. playing
a couple of nights at 'Hurrahs' in New York.
August
2: "There There My Dear" peaks at Number 7 in British Chart.
August
6: Dexys announce they will
no longer be giving interviews and that they intend to communicate directly with their fans through essays.
Dexys
embark on a lengthy European tour with new recruit Mick Talbot on keyboards.
August 15: @ Bilzen Festival
(Belgium) Dexys share the bill with The Stranglers, Urban Heroes,The Lambrettas and Girlschool
(featuring ex-Killjoy, Gil Weston), August 17: @ Groningen Sterrebos (Holland)
September 27: @ Rotterdam, Eksit
October
8: @
Berlin, S.O. 36 October 9: @ Hamburg, Markthalle October
10: @
Herford, Scala. Dexys also appear
on Granada TV show, "Wilson's World of
Pop", interviewed
(in a caff) by presenter Tony Wilson. October 11: @ Cologne, Funkhaus October 13: @ Hannover, Rotation October 14: @ Dusseldorf, Ratinger Hof
November 7: Dexys
split. Williams, Blythe, Spooner, Talbot and Stoker leave to form The Bureau. November 13: Smash
Hits announces that Seb Shelton has left Secret Affair. He subsequently joins Dexys. November
17: "Keep It - Part Two" released.
December: New line-up of Midnight Runners
recruited by Rowland, Archer, Paterson and Shelton. Saxophonists Paul Speare and Brian Maurice are joined by keyboard
player Micky Billingham and bassist Steve Wynne.
New-look Dexys perform "Geno" on
"Top of the Pops" Christmas special.
|
1981 January: Kevin Archer leaves Dexys to form The Blue Ox Babes. He is replaced by Billy Adams. The new line-up rehearse
in a disused theatre for their planned tour, provisionally entitled "The Open Heart Revue".
"Plan B" / "Soul Finger" single recorded.
March 9: "Plan B" released (against the group's wishes). March 21: "Plan B" enters British chart, peaking
at number 58.
April: Dexys leave
E.M.I., having discovered a loop-hole in their original contract. Without record company support they are forced to cancel most
of the planned shows on their "Projected Passion Revue" tour.
April 9:
@ Birmingham, Odeon
April 13: @ Chelmsford,
Odeon
April
17: @ London, Dominion
Theatre
May
30: "Radio 1 Live In Concert" recorded @ London, Paris Theatre
May
5 (9-45pm): Dexys appear
on BBC2 'alternative comedy' show "Boom Boom... Out Go The Lights" starring Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer
and Alexei Sayle. They perform "Plan B" and "Soul Finger".
June: Dexys sign to Phonogram
before embarking on a two-week tour of Europe, including the Hamar Festival in Norway, some shows in Stockholm and several
appearances at open-air festivals in Holland:
June 27: @ Bussum, "Heipop Festival" (Holland)
June
30: @ Brouwershaven, De Markt (Holland)
July 9: "Radio 1 Sessions" recorded (tracks: "Spiritual Passion", "Let's Make This Precious", "Your
Own" and "Until I Believe In My Soul").
July
11: "Show Me" enters British chart.
August 16: @
Nottingham - Theatre Royal - The show is filmed and an edited version
of it is later broadcast on ITV show "Video Sounds".
August 17: @ Edinburgh, Coasters
September 01:
Micky Billingham reveals in the group's latest news-letter that
the next single entitled "Your Own" will be released very shortly. Giorgio Kilkenny replaces Steve Wynne on bass guitar just in time to perform on the
new single, now retitled "Liars A To E" and featuring Speare, Maurice and Paterson on viola and cellos instead of
their familiar brass instruments.
September 09: Dexys travel to Portugal to take part in the Avante festival, performing in front of crowds of 5000! Their set includes one of the band's earliest performances of "Jackie Wilson
Said".
November 13: @ London, Old
Vic
November 14: @
London, Old Vic
November 15:
@ London, Old Vic
|
1982 January: Violin
player, Helen Bevington from Birmingham School of Music rehearses with Dexys as they experiment with a new "Celtic
Soul" sound. She introduces fellow students, Steve Shaw and Roger Huckle to the group and the trio (renamed Helen
O'Hara, Steve Brennan and Roger MacDuff) become known as 'The Emerald Express'.
Big Jimmy Paterson and Brian
Maurice leave Dexys, feeling that their role in the group has diminished since the arrival of the fiddle section.
Paul Speare remains with the group for another few weeks.
March 21: "Celtic Soul Brothers" (featuring 'The Emerald Express') enters the British chart, peaking at number 45.
Big Jimmy Paterson
and Brian Maurice agree to return to the group on a session basis to complete the album sessions, before forming a free-lance
brass section which eventually became known as "The TKO Horns".
"Too-Rye-Ay" (provisional title "Hey, Where You Going With That Suitcase") recorded"
April: Record Mirror states that
a new Dexys album entitled "Where You Going With That Suitcase?" will be released in July.
June 6: Brass section return
for one last wild waltz, performing at a one-off concert: "Radio 1 Live in Concert" recorded @ Newcastle, Exhibition Park.
June 19th: In its first week of release "Come On Eileen" fails to chart and is
listed as 'bubbling under' the top 75 for 2 weeks running.
July 4: "Radio 1 session" recorded (tracks: "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)"; "Let's Make
This Precious"; "All In All (This One Last Wild Waltz)"; "Old" (The session features Mark Walters on trombone and new saxophonist Nick Gatfield.)
End of July: "Too-Rye-Ay" released.
August: Giorgio Kilkenny leaves Dexys
and is replaced on bass by Johnny Edwards.
August
7: "Come On Eileen" reaches number 1 in British chart (...
just in time for Eddie-Metal's 22nd birthday celebrations!)
Dexys consolidate their new-found success by commencing "The
Bridge" tour, accompanied by new-recruits, Spike Edney on trombone and saxophonist Kevin Gilson.
September 26: @ Glasgow, Pavilion
September
27: @ Edinburgh, Usher Hall
September 28: @ Newcastle, City Hall
September 30: @ Manchester,
Tameside Theatre
October 1: @ Southport Theatre
October 2: @ LLandudno, Astra Theatre; "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" enters British chart.
October
3: @ Birmingham, Hippodrome
October 5: @ Coventry, Apollo
October 6: @
Cardiff, St David's Hall
October
7: @ Poole, Arts Centre
October 9: @ London, Shaftesbury
Theatre
October 10:
@ London, Shaftesbury Theatre (filmed for video release)
Dexys embark
on an extensive European tour (including...)
October 27: @ Haarlem, (Holland)
October 29: @ Hamburg, Markthalle
November 5: @ Hamburg, Audiomax
November 13: @ Paris, Eldorado
November 19: @
Berlin, Germany
December
3: Dexys appear on Channel
4's "The Tube" giving a remarkable performance of "There There My Dear". They also perform "Let's
Get This Straight", "Celtic Soul Brothers" and "Plan B" (which is cut short by the end of the show.)
December 3: Dexys
appear on BBC2 programme, "Oxford Road Show" performing "Kevin Rowland's Band", "Let's Get
This Straight" and "Celtic Soul Brothers".
December 26: Dexys perform Slade's
"Merry Christmas, Everybody" and "Let's Get This Straight" on ITV Christmas special, "Christmas
Goes Pop".
|
1983 February:
Dexys embark on their first American
tour with new-recruit, Bob Noble taking over on keyboards from the departed Billingham. A concert performed at the New
York Savoy is recorded for US release: February 10: @ New York, Savoy Hall February 14: @ Toronto, Canada, Massey Hall February 15: @ Detroit, St. Andrews February 15: @ San Francisco, Kabuki
Theater
April 16: "Rockpalast" live TV broadcast recorded @ Essen, Germany, 'Grugahalle'
April 17: @
Paris, Casino de Paris
April
18: @ Paris, Casino de Paris
April 23: "Come On Eileen" reaches number
1 in the American charts.
May: Dexys embark on a second tour
of America to capitalise on the success of "Come On Eileen" and "Too-Rye-Ay": May 14: "Saturday
Night Live" TV broadcast recorded @
New York, RCA Building May 21: @ Atlanta, Georgia, The Agora May 22: @ Gainesville, Florida University
June 09: @
Paris, Hippodrome D'auteuil (A support act slot for Dexys at a concert
headlined by David Bowie sees Kevin Rowland grow impatient at the crowd's restlessness and antagonise the fans by
sharing some "choice words" regarding the "star act" of the night!) After this show the group takes time out to start developing ideas for the next album.
September/October: Dexys begin demo-ing material for their next album, including new composition "What's
She Like."
|
1984 February: Vincent
Crane joins Dexys after seeing an advert for a "bluesy-hard piano player" in Melody Maker. Mick Bolton
also auditions for the group which is now a nucleus of Kevin Rowland, Billy Adams, Helen O'Hara and Nicky Gatfield.
April/May: Dexys spend four weeks recording at Mountain
Studios in Montreaux, with Rowland, Adams, O'Hara, Gatfield and Crane joined by previous Dexys members Johnny Edwards,
Bob Noble and original trombonist Jimmy Paterson, alongside Wilson Pickett's regular drummer, Crusher Green. "I
Love You (Listen To This)" recorded. ("Reminisce Part Two" also apparently
recorded at this time)
June/July: Crane , Edwards
and Green are replaced by Mick Bolton, Trevor Burton and Mick Woodmansey as album rehearsals and recording sessions continue
back in England. "Elizabeth
Wimpole & Kathleen Ni Houlihan" (a.k.a. "The Waltz"), "Kevin Rowland's 13th
Crime" and "The Way You Look Tonight" recorded along with unreleased recordings "What's She's
Like", "One Of Those Things", "I'll Put It Right With Thirst", "Because Of You" and "Dave"
(a.k.a. "Knowledge of Beauty").
Early cover art for the new album is produced.
August: Original release date for new album postponed as recording continues at studios in Kensington.
September: Crane and Edwards return to the group replacing Bolton
and Burton, as the entire album is re-recorded with new drummer Tim Dancy. The line-up is augmented by Julian Littman
on Mandolin and steel gutar player Tommy Evans. Released versions of "This Is
What She's Like", "The Occasional Flicker", "Knowledge Of Beauty" and "One Of Those
Things" recorded.
December: Rescheduled release date for new album postponed .
|
1985 January:
'Smash
Hits' announces that it has heard "rough mixes" of the new Dexys album, stating that Kevin Rowland has "gone
a bit Rock 'n' Roll".
February 1: Mixing of the album begins in New York's Electric Ladyland studios.
August
17: A wordless,
full-page advert depicting Kevin Rowland in a suit and tie appears in both Melody Maker and N.M.E.
August 23: Dexys' scheduled headline appearance on a five-hour Channel 4 special,
'The Big Tube' is cancelled when the programme is scrapped at the last minute due to industrial action at
Tyne Tees studios.
September 10-12:
Dexys' spend three days at Wembley Film Studios in North
London filming the studio parts of the promotional videos for "This Is What She's Like", "Knowledge
Of Beauty" and "Listen To This" with film-maker Jack Hazan directing. The videos for "This Is What
She's Like" and "Knowledge Of Beauty" also feature extensive footage filmed on location - in New York and
Ireland's County Mayo respectively. September 13: "Don't Stand Me Down" is finally released.
Dexys
appear on BBC 1's "Wogan" show, performing "Listen To This"
October 1: Kevin Rowland is interviewed on BBC 2's
'Whistle Test' by Richard Skinner. The interview is followed by a rare broadcast of the video for
"Knowledge of Beauty".
October 4: Kevin Rowland, Billy Adams and Helen O'Hara appear on Channel 4's "Bliss"
for a rather confrontational interview with Muriel Gray.
October 5:
"Marguerita Time" and "Kathleen Mavourneen" recorded.
October 11:
Dexys perform "Listen To This" and "Kathleen Mavourneen" on
Channel 4's 'The Tube'.
October 22: @ Rennes, Maison De La Culture October 23: @ Nantes, Le Paris October 25: @ Paris, Eldorado
October
26: @ Paris, Eldorado October 27: @
Paris, Eldorado
November 1: @ Edinburgh, Playhouse November 2: @
Newcastle, City Hall November
3: @ Manchester Apollo November 4: @ Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall November 7: @ Southampton, Beaumont November 8: @
Brighton, Centre; "(An Extract From) This Is What She's Like" is released as a single. November 9: @ Bristol, Colston Hall November
11: @ London, Dominion Theatre November 12: @ London, Dominion Theatre November
13: @ London, Dominion Theatre
December: "This
Is What She's Like" re-recorded for proposed single release.
|
1986 March 18: "Because Of You" recorded.
March 19/20:
A Dexys Midnight Runners line-up including Kevin Rowland, Billy Adams,
Helen O'Hara, Vince Crane and Mick Bolton work on some new recordings...
Dexys provide
the theme tune and incidental music for a new BBC comedy called "Brush Strokes". The song, originally
titled "You're Alright With Me", is also planned for future single release. Reports suggest that Kevin Rowland
is a personal friend of the show's star, Karl Howman.
New Kevin Rowland composition
"Walk Away" is demoed with a view to releasing it as the next Dexys single. However, following the exposure
gained from its regular use in the hit series "Brush Strokes", "Because Of You" becomes the new single
by "Dexys Midnight Runners Featuring Kevin Rowland"
November:
Helen O'Hara personally writes the latest "Dexys Midnight Runners Circle" news letter telling the tales of her time with the group.
November 22: "Because of You (The Theme from Brush Strokes)" enters the British charts, eventually reaching number 13.
Later pressings of "Because Of You" carry the changed
heading: "Kevin Rowland Featuring Dexys Midnight Runners" indicating the beginnings of Rowland's move towards
a solo career.
|
1987 Acoustic
demos of new Kevin Rowland compositions "Young Man",
"When You Walk Alone" and "Tonight" are recorded as Rowland begins work on what will eventually become
his first solo album.
August: Dexys Midnight Runners Circle newsletter announces that Kevin Rowland is in the United States recording the L.P.- revealing that
"The new material is different from previous Dexys Midnight Runners output... At present, progress is according
to schedule and they are about half-way through recording the album."
|
1988 February 20: N.M.E.
reports that Kevin Rowland will return with a new solo single and album in April.
May: "Walk Away" is released, reaching number 67 in the British charts.
June: "The Wanderer" is released, also reaching number 67 in the British charts.
July
15: Kevin Rowland appears on Jonathan Ross' Channel
4 show, "The Last Resort", performing "The More I See You" accompanied by ex-Midnight Runners, Jimmy
Paterson and Mick Bolton.
August: "Tonight" is released, reaching number 81 in the British charts.
October:
"Young Man" is released. It does not chart.
|
1990:
Kevin Rowland co-writes the song "If
You Keep On" for Adam Ant's album "Manners and Physique".
November 10: The N.M.E. reports that Kevin Rowland has taken London Records
to the High Court for breaking a promise to sign him after he had freed himself from his contract with Phonogram
in order to join them. They also reveal that Rowland and Big Jimmy Paterson will return with a reformed Dexys Midnight Runners
in 1991, featuring "one or two other key members" and with Rowland stating: "We've got lots of plans for
next year."
|
1991: Kevin Rowland and Jimmy Paterson who are both unemployed and on the dole meet
up regularly to work on new songs and plans to reform Dexys.
August 25: "The
People" newspaper runs a cover story reporting that Kevin Rowland has discovered he has a 17 year old daughter named
Althea-Jane.
|
1992: Kevin
Rowland supplies vocals and guitar for the Shut Up And Dance track, "Autobiography of A Crackhead"
Heavenly Records finance the
recording of some new demos. The songs include early versions of "Manhood" and "My Life In England" together
with "You're The Rose" and "You Can Get Your Own Free".
|
1993: Further demos are recorded including new versions
of "Manhood" and "My Life In England" together with "If I Ever", "She's Got A Giggle
That Melts My Heart" and "Coming Home".
March 27: A Dexys line-up featuring Kevin Rowland, Jimmy Paterson and Billy Adams perform
"Manhood" and "If I Ever" on Jonathan Ross' Channel 4 show, "Saturday Zoo." The
return is accompanied by interviews in the music press detailing Dexys' plans for a new album and tour.
August: Q Magazine runs a four page feature on Dexys' return. Kevin Rowland takes the opportunity
to announce that the "Too-Rye-Ay" sound was actually inspired by Kevin Archer.
|
1994: Kevin Rowland, recovering from cocaine addiction and bankrupcy undergoes therapy. He also contemplates
a career change to acting.
A TV documentary
to mark the release of The Proclaimers' new album "Hit The Highway" includes a brief
interview with Kevin Rowland.
|
1995 April 15:
The
N.M.E. prints an article about Dexys' aborted 1993 return.
May 6: Kevin Rowland sends
a letter to the N.M.E. regarding their recent Dexys article which leads to a war of
words between him and the paper, lasting several weeks.
|
1997 January:
Kevin
Rowland announces that he has signed to Creation and will be releasing an album entitled "My Beauty", stating that
this will be followed by a new Dexys album. He also uses the press release to reiterate that Kevin Archer deserved credit
for inspiring Dexy's "Too-Rye-Ay" sound. January 21: The Daily Mail reports
the story, implying that "Come On Eileen" was actually written by Kevin Archer.
February 1: Melody Maker prints a statement from Kevin Rowland clarifying that it was the "Too-Rye-Ay"
SOUND and not any particular songs that were inspired by Kevin Archer.
|
1998: While work on the new album progresses slowly, it emerges that Jimmy Paterson
has left the project.
|
1999 June: A high-profile bill-board
campaign and front cover feature in "Dazed & Confused" magazine launch Kevin Rowland's new 'soft and
sexy' look on an unsuspecting public.
August 28: Kevin Rowland
does a 15 minute set at the Reading Festival, performing "You'll Never Walk Alone", "Concrete And Clay" and "The Greatest Love Of All".
His attire and the use of exotic dancers during the set provoke a hostile reaction from some in the crowd and also from
the music press.
September: "Concrete And Clay" is released. It does not chart.
The Bruce Springsteen
song "Thunder Road" is pulled from "My Beauty" at the eleventh hour after permission to use
different lyrics from the original version is refused.
October:
"My Beauty" is released. It does not chart.
|
2000 August:
"Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (20th anniversary edition)" is released.
September: Kevin Rowland and Kevin Archer are reunited for an 8-page interview in Record Collector.
The Dexys story is featured as part of a BBC documentary series, "Young Guns", including
contributions from many of the original group members.
October 21: Dexys feature on a Channel 4 documentary "Top Ten of 1980" which includes a joint-interview with Kevin Archer and Kevin Rowland
as well as comments from Big Jimmy Paterson and Geno Washington.
|
2001 February: Rumours
of a possible Dexys return again resurface. It is also announced that Kevin Rowland has supplied the vocals for a forthcoming
Space Raiders single, "Dreamland", described as being quite 'vaudeville' in style. The single, scheduled
for a summer release, never appears. February 13: The NME reports
on the rumours, quoting a spokesman for Kevin Rowland's management: "We're just deciding now he's free of
a deal after Creation disbanded whether it's going to be a Dexys thing or a solo thing."
April:
Kevin Rowland appears in a BBC Scotland documentary to
mark the release of The Proclaimers' new album, "Persevere", declaring his appreciation of their music.
August 23: Kevin Rowland appears at Filthy McNasty's pub in London as part of a promotion for Paul Gorman's book "The Look" to which Kevin has contributed
his recollections on Mod fashion and culture. He reads extracts from the book and performs renditions of "This Guy's
In Love With You" and "I Love You (Listen To This)".
October 31: Birmingham Evening Mail
reports that Kevin Rowland has been invited to unveil a 40 foot mural at West Bromwich Community Centre featuring images of
local celebrities, including Rowland himself.
November: Kevin Rowland appears at the Q Magazine awards ceremony,
presenting Travis with their 'Best Band' award. Kevin's 'country gent' look complete with checked jacket and cap ensure that his picture appears
in several news papers and celebrity magazines.
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2003
March 7: Former Midnight Runners, Pete Williams, Steve Spooner and Mick Talbott are reunited
with fellow ex-Bureau members Archie Brown and Paul Taylor at a Young Bucks gig in Gateshead. Meanwhile, rumours
are once again circulating that Dexys plan to reform, and that Paul Gorman is writing a Dexys biography.
April:
Dexys announce that they have
recorded two new songs, intended for single release and will be releasing a new Greatest Hits album later in the year
which will be accompanied by a tour. April 20: 'The Dexys Midnight Runners
Group' is set-up on the M.S.N. web-site. This web-group features the first versions of the pages which will eventually
become www.dexys.org!
June:
Mojo Magazine features a letter from Kevin Rowland to his fans:
"I
just want to say thanks to the fans of mine who have supported me through the good times and the bad for more than 20 years.
I do appreciate it. Thank you."
August
8: Kevin Rowland and Pete Williams are interviewed by Mark
Goodier for BBC Radio 2. The show also features the first public airing of the new "Manhood" single and it is revealed
during the interview that Mick Talbot will be part of the new Dexys line-up. August 23: Kevin Rowland and Pete Williams are interviewed by Mark Lamarr for BBC Radio 2.
September 17: The new
line-up of Midnight Runners including ex-Bureau trombonist Paul Taylor and "My Beauty" guitarist Neil Hubbard is
revealed by MSN's 'Dexys Midnight Runners Group'! On the same day the band make their first public appearance
when they record a performance of "Manhood" for the BBC TV show TOTP2.
September 22: New 'Best of' compilation "Let's Make This Precious" is released.
September 30: Kevin
Rowland is interviewed by Danny Baker for BBC Radio London.
October 4: A four-piece line-up of Midnight Runners featuring Kevin Rowland, Pete Williams, Mick Talbot and
Neil Hubbard play a short set at Newcastle's Baltic Centre, broadcast live on Radio 2. They perform
"My Life In England" which is announced as the new single together with unplugged style versions of "Because
of You" and "Come On Eileen". October 8: The TOTP2 performance of "Manhood"
is broadcast. October
21: @ Portsmouth, Guildhall October 23: @
Wolverhampton, Civic Hall October 25:
@ Leeds, Grand Theatre October 26:
@ Basingstoke, The Anvil October 28: @ Bristol, Colston Hall October 29: @ Cambridge, Corn
Exchange October 31:
@ Guildford, Civic
November 2: @ Aberdeen, Music
Hall
November 3: @ Glasgow, Pavilion November
4: @ Newcastle, Opera House November 6: @ Manchester,
Academy November 7: @ Liverpool, Royal Court Theatre -
recorded for DVD release. November
8: @ Northampton, Derngate November 10: @ London, Royal Festival
Hall November 11:
@ Mitlon Keynes, Stables November 12: @ Plymouth, Pavilions November 14: @ Coventry,
Warwick Arts Centre November
15: @ Dublin, Vicar Street November 16: @ Belfast, Waterfront Hall November
18: @ Leicester, De Montford Hall November 20: @ Malmo, KB November 22: @ Oslo, Rockefeller November 23: @ Stockholm,
Cirkus November 25: @ Goteborg, Tradgarn
December: Kevin
Rowland selects ten of his all-time favourite tracks for BBC Radio 2 feature "Tracks Of My Tears". The selections
include two songs each by Van Morrison and Bryan Ferry.
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2004 January 24: Kevin
Rowland takes part in a public interview at a theatre in Gothenburg organised in conjuction with The Gothenburg Film Festival
and Swedish radio.
January
27: Kevin Rowland
attends a signing session at a record store in Stockholm.
February 14: BBC Radio 2 broadcasts an hour-long
documentary presented by comedian, Alexei Sayle entitled "Alexei on Dexys" featuring interviews with Kevin Rowland
and several ex-band members.
May 26: Kevin
Rowland makes a surprise guest appearance at a gig by Swedish artist Moneybrother at the Debaser club in Stockholm. He performs
the Moneybrother song “It’s Been Hurting All The Way With You, Joanna” as well as the Dexys classics "Tell
Me When My Light Turns Green", "This Is What She's Like" and "Come On Eileen".
May 31: "Punk In London '77" DVD released featuring rare footage of Kevin Rowland in The Killjoys, along with many other punk acts including The Clash and The Jam.
June: "Come On England" (a re-working of Dexys hit "Come
On Eileen") is released as a 'Euro 2004' football anthem by a group called 4-4-2. It reaches Number 2 in
the UK singles chart.
June 15: A telephone interview with Kevin Rowland about the song is broadcast on Sky Sports News.
September 26: Kevin
Rowland and Billy Adams appear briefly on ITV show "It Shouldn't Happen To A Pop Star" discussing their experiences
of 'over-obsessive fans'!
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2005 March 12: Kevin
Rowland performs at a reunion concert for art-rock band, Deaf School at The Magnet in Liverpool. He appears alongside
Madness singer, Suggs on stage.
June 2: A short interview with Kevin Rowland, announcing that Dexys are 'back in the studio'
and 'working on a new album' is broadcast on the Ken Bruce show on BBC Radio 2.
November 15: Kevin Rowland's scheduled performance at a Gala
Concert in Cardiff in aid of Kidney Research is cancelled at the last minute due to a family bereavement. It later emerges
that Kevin's brother, Pete has passed away.
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2006 January 20: Kevin Rowland features as a guest reviewer on BBC 6Music new-release show
"Round Table". January 24: The Sun newspaper reports that Blur's Alex James is writing a song for the new Dexys album and
might perform with Dexys "next year".
January 26: Kevin Rowland
features in another brief interview on BBC Radio 2's Ken Bruce show talking about writing songs for the forthcoming Dexys
album.
February
22/23: Kevin Rowland returns to Sweden for more
live performances at Stokholm's Debaser club.
February 24: Kevin Rowland performs with Debaser club's house-band
Club Killers in Lund, southern Sweden.
Whilst in Sweden, Kevin gives interviews to journalists Andres Lokko and Patrik
Zander about his plans for the new Dexys album.
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2007 January 19: Kevin Rowland DJ set @ Wolverhampton, Civic Centre.
February: Kevin
Rowland announces via his MySpace site that future releases will be under the shortened name of "Dexys" (rather
than "Dexys Midnight Runners").
February 02: Kevin Rowland DJ set @ Brixton, Canterbury Arms as guest DJ for H.D.I.F. ("How Does It Feel To Be Loved")
February 14-16: Kevin
Rowland stands in as a guest DJ for three nights on BBC 6Music, playing a very eclectic mix of songs.
July 13: Kevin Rowland DJ set @ Birmingham, Hare & Hounds. July 21: Kevin Rowland features
on BBC TV programme, "Soul Britania" .
August 10:
Kevin Rowland DJ set @ Dublin, Sugar Club.
August 25: Kevin Rowland appears as a guest on Mark Lamaar's BBC Radio 2 show,
discussing his involvement in a soon-to-be released Motown compilation.
September 3: "Too-Rye-Ay" 2CD "Deluxe Edition" released.
Motown " Made-to-Measure" compilation featuring track selections hand-picked by Kevin Rowland also released.
September
7-9: Kevin Rowland DJ set @ "Bestival", Newport, Isle of Wight.
September 14: Wolverhampton's "Express & Star" newspaper runs an article about Kevin Archer who is now
offering his services as a private guitar tutor.
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2008 January: Kevin Rowland gives a short interview to Uncut magazine about work on the new Dexys album.
May: The "Little Nibble" Café in Smethwick (immortalised in the Dexys Midnight Runners song "This
Is What She's Like") closes its doors to the public for the last time.
September
5-7: Kevin Rowland
DJ set @ "Bestival", Newport, Isle of Wight.
November 1:
Kevin Rowland performs a live DJ set on
BBC 6Music's "6 Mix" show.
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2009 May 18: The long-lost 1988 album, "Apples And Oranges"
by Kevin Archer’s post-Dexys band The Blue Ox Babes is finally released.
July 08: Kevin Rowland announces
that he has spent the past seven days at a studio in central London with Mick Talbot, working on material for a new Dexys
project!
November 06: Kevin Rowland DJ set @ Brixton, Canterbury Arms.
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2010 Kevin
Rowland relocates to an Ayurvedic garden health retreat in India for five weeks to contemplate his next
move. He concludes that he wants to make a new Dexys album.
March 11: Kevin
Rowland is interviewed by DJ and author, Dave Haslam in front of a sell-out audience in Manchester's Green Room. The interview is part of a series of "Close Up" events organised by Haslam, featuring writers, artists,
actors and musicians including Terry Hall, John Bramwell and Mark E. Smith.
April 29: Kevin Rowland
performs a DJ set with Dave Hill for Heavenly Recordings at The Social.
October 18: "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels - 30th Anniversary Edition" is released.
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2011 Dexys finally begin recording sessions for their
long-promised new album.
July 15: Dexys announce that "almost
half" of their new album has been recorded.
July 16: Kevin Rowland DJ set @ London, Phoenix.
July 19: Dexys unveil
the first material from their forthcoming album, making a short extract from opening track, "Now" available on YouTube.
October 22: Dexys announce that recording of their new album is complete!
December
Pete Schwier completes the final mixes of the new Dexys album.
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2012 February 29: Dexys reveal the full track-listing of new album "One Day I'm Going To
Soar"
March 09: Kevin Rowland is interviewed on BBC 6 Music's Radcliffe
& Maconie Show which features the first airing of material from the new Dexys album.
March 12: Dexys unveil a 'taster track' from their forthcoming album entitled "Nowhere Is Home".
March 16: Kevin Rowland is interviewed by Mark Kermode on BBC’s
“Culture Show”.
April
28: @ Stockholm, Berns
April 30: @ Gothenburg, Pustervik
May 04: @ Treorchy, Parc and Dare Theatre
May
06: @ Glasgow, Cottier Theatre
May 07: @ Whitely
Bay, Play House
May 08: @ London,
Shepherds Bush Empire
May 15: Dexys appear on BBC 2 show “Later With Jools Holland” performing “Free”,
“Incapable of Love”, “Lost” and “Come On Eileen”
June 05: Kevin
Rowland and Big Jimmy Paterson are interviewed on the BBC Breakfast sofa in a broadcast otherwise dominated by coverage of
the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
June 23:
@ Frankfurt, Jahrhunderhalle
July 13: @
Southwold, Henham Park ("Latitude" Festival)
September 01: @
Stradbally, Stradbally Hall ("Electric Picnic" Festival)
September 09: @ Colchester,
Arts Centre (warm-up show for the “One
Day I’m Going To Soar” tour.)
September 11: @ Cambridge, Corn Exchange
September 12: @ Birmingham, Symphony Hall
September 13: @ Southampton, Guildhall
September 16: @ London, Barbican Centre
September 17: @ Gateshead, Sage Theatre
September 18: @ Edinburgh, Queens Hall
September 20: @ Brighton, Dome
September 21: @ Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
September 22: @ Bristol, Colston Hall
September 24: @ Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall
September 25: @ Oxford, New Theatre
October 29: "Incapable
Of Love" is released.
November 10: @ Melbourne, Werribee Park (Harvest Festival)
November 11:
@ Melbourne, Werribee Park (Harvest Festival)
November 12: @ Perth, Astor Theatre (Harvest Festival)
November
15: @ Sydney, Enmore Theatre (Harvest Festival)
November
17: @ Sydney, Parramatta Park (Harvest Festival)
November 18:
@ Brisbane, The Botanic Gardens (Harvest Festival)
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2013 January
01: Dexys appear shortly after midnight on Jools Holland’s New Year
BBC show “Jools Annual Hootenanny”, performing “Come On Eileen”, “She Got A Wiggle” and
“Geno”.
January
29: Kevin is interviewed by Jo Whiley on her BBC Radio 2
show.
April 06: @
London, Wilton’s Music
Hall (For “Other Voices”)
April 09: @ Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
April
10: @ Bath, Komedia
April 13: @ Gloucester,
Guildhall Arts Centre
April 15: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April
16: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 18: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 19: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 20: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 22: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 23: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 24: @ London, Duke of York Theatre
April 27:
@ London, Duke of York Theatre
May 02: @ Dublin,
Olympia Theatre
May 03: @ Belfast,
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
May 04: @ Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral ("Liverpool Sound City")
May
10: Kevin Rowland is interviewed byTalk Sport, discussing his
life-long love of Wolverhampton Wanderers football club.
May
25: @ Barcelona, Parc del Forum (“Primavera Sound” Festival)
June:
@ "Luften Festival", Gemany
June 30: @ The Hague, Zuiderpark
(“Parkpop” Festival)
July
01: @ Amsterdam, Melkweg
July 13: Southwold,
Henham Park ("Latitude" Festival)
July 18:
Dexys headline the Larmer Tree Festival
July
26: @ Kirkcudbright, Kirkcarswell Farm (Wickerman Festival)
July 28: @ Stockton-On-Tees (Stockton Weekender Festival)
September 08:
@ Downhill (Isle of Wight), Robin Hill Country Park ("Bestival")
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2014 May
09: Dexys film, “Nowhere Is Home” premieres at the B.F.I.
[British Film Institute] on London's South Bank.
April
12: Dexys announce that former Bananarama
and Shakespeare's Sister singer Siobhan Fahey has joined Dexys for their summer shows as a replacement for Madeleine
Hyland who is unavailable.
June 07: Kevin
Rowland is interviewed by Amy Lamé on BBC Radio 6 Music.
June
24: @ Norwich, The Waterfront
June 25: @ Coventry, The Kasbah
June 27:
@ London, Roundhouse
June
28: Dexys make their debut at
the Glastonbury Festival, performing on the Acoustic Stage.
July 21: Dexys film, “Nowhere Is Home” is given a one-night only
release at Vue Cinemas across the UK. Kevin Rowland
attends the screening at London’s Piccadilly
Circus.
October 20: "Nowhere Is Home" Live CD/DVD released. (It features recordings/footage from the 2013 performances
at London's Duke of York Theatre.)
October 30: Kevin Rowland
and Jim Paterson appear on BBC's "The One Show" in an interview with former Catatonia singer Cerys
Matthews.
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2015 March 20: Dexys film "Nowhere
Is Home" gets its TV premiere on BBC4. The airing of the programme causes "Dexys" to trend on Twitter!
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(Suggest Diary Updates)
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